A trip to Cancun and Chichen Itza, Mexico

When you do not know something, your opinion then is driven by your ego. This is what our tour guide told us when we were going to Chichen Itza from Cancun in the tour bus. And this is very true.

Before visiting Mexico I had different opinion about the country but after staying there for 6 months I got to see different Mexico. Mexico is not about drug cartels, theft, kidnapping it is about beautiful beaches, ruins, old civilization, its lovely people and of course tequila.

In our first trip we were scared to venture out alone after 6 PM in evening as local people instilled fear in us that it is not safe. But that is not true. If you go out and do not try to be mischievous you are safe. Rare incidents keep happening everywhere around the world but we cannot treat that as a phenomenon.

I too was scared to go all the way to Cancun on my own in first thought but then I thought this is the best opportunity to remove the fear, going alone in a country which doesn’t speak my language, doesn’t eat my type of food and having no one by my side if I get into some trouble. At least my one fear is gone after going to Cancun that I can manage myself anywhere in any situation. You should also try to do that if you get any opportunity like that. But the only disadvantage of going alone is that you don’t get good photos. :D

I was there in Cancun for 3 nights, I thought 2 days will be sufficient but after reaching there, I found there are so many things to do and many places to visit. One needs at least 5 days to cover all the places. I could only manage to see Cancun City, Playa Del Carmen beach, Conzumel island and Chichen Itza (one of the seven wonder of the world). I would have loved to go to Tumul and Xel-Ha beaches and party at Cocobongo. It was a shame that I went in rainy season. It was raining almost all the time since I landed in Cancun so couldn’t walk and see much which I would have loved to do.

There are some photos I clicked while I was in Mexico in particular order

                              Coming back from Cancun to Toluca (City where I was put up)

                                                    On the way to Chichen Itza

                                                          Mexican Folk Dance

                   Good to go in cold water after humid day, coming back from Chichen Itza

                           Chichen Itza - Structure is not as great but history is very powerful

                                       On cruise from Playa Del Carmen to Conzumel

                                                               At Conzumel

                                                            Playa Del Carmen

                                                                Playa Del Carmen

                                                                       On Cruise

        They stamp the sweets on the table, you can choose from here whatever dessert you want

                                                       Friday night party scene

                                Floating restaurant in Valley de Bravo. I love the blue sky

                                                        Lagun at Volcano, Toluca

                                                  Pyarmid of the Sun - the tuacahn

                                                     Liga MX Cup

                                                  Zocango Zoo, feeding the giraffe

Is this the start of a great season for Rafael Nadal?

This is the first year when Rafa has not won a grand slam when he started after winning French Open in 2005. He has won at least one grand slam each for consecutive 9 years.

His performance this year has been below par. He didn’t even reach the semifinal of any grand slam and some very low ranked players have beaten him. He was beaten by Novak Djokovic in French Open in straight sets. When he was losing people started asking him to change the coach as he needs some fresh ideas but Nadal rejected the idea of having a new coach. Then some people jokingly suggested him to get married as Murray and Djokovic seems to be doing good after marriage but he answered as I don’t need to get married, I believe, to play good tennis. I played lot of good tennis during a lot of time without being married, so that’s not going to be the key. 

Everyone was questioning him whether he is good enough or not to win a slam. But after seeing him play in last two weeks I am convinced that 2016 is going to be a good season for Nadal. He is gaining confidence and believing in himself. You can see old Rafa completing as he used to be, he is chasing even after trailing 0-40 in a game. He is believing in his shots, he is running well on the court. One major difference in these two weeks is that he is standing near to baseline and not very far. Players stand far away from the baseline when they are not feeling confident. 

 I see resurgent Rafa. He beat three tough men on the way to Shanghai Semifinal before losing to Frenchman Jo Wilfred Tsonga but not before he bageled him in second set. Now nobody is asking about his coach and marriage plans. As they as success has many fathers failure is an orphan is true.

By beating Milos Raonic in Shanghai Rolex Master in third round, he has secured a place in Barclays ATP World Tour Finals for an Eighth time to be played from 16 to 22 November in O2 Arena in London.

Looking for a great season ahead!

Ye Jo Mera Bihar Hai: Ravish Kumar

Everyone who watches even a little bit of news surely would have heard this name. Ravish Kumar is a senior executive editor with NDTV India, the Hindi news channel of NDTV news Network and hosts Prime Time and Ravish ki report at 9 PM. He hails from Champaran Bihar, a north Indian state.

I am regular watcher of his shows. But let me confess that before moved to NDTV India, I was an avid watcher of New Hours with Arnab Goswami but it now has become one man show.

Now let me come to the point. While channels were busy talking about Sudhindra Kulkrni ink episode, Bihar election, Dadri Incident which dominated the headline for couple of days and as usual Kashmir Issue sitting in AC rooms, there was on reporter who was out in the streets reporting what affects everyone lives.

As the show starts Ravish Kumar, wearing a yellow shirt was seen riding a bicycle in a village with school girls who were coming back from schools. The way he asked questions to teenage girls shows he really cares about what is happening in his own states. He told them to speak up, learn English as opportunities are more for English speakers, voice your opinion and join the politics. He was amazed to see how a bicycle can change the fate for a girl. Bicycle means more girls are enrolling in schools as they don’t have to travel to far off places barefooted and also to help in household activities such as buying ration.

He also shown a girl riding a bicycle distributing newspaper and also a girl carrying her mother to home from bus stand.

He was encouraging everyone in that group and I am sure each one would have gained a lot of confidence to do well in their studies and in future endeavors as well.

It was really great to see this Ravish Ki Report amidst all the chaos in studios. Hope he carries on like this for many many years.

Anirban Lahiri has made the world to look at Indian Golf

When everybody is busy talking about India’s loss to SriLanka in the first Test and Saina Nehwal scaling new heights in badminton (despite losing the final to Carlolin Marin, he will be no. 1 when rankings are announced on Thursday), we forget to celebrate the players doing wonders though in sports which not everyone is familiar of. 

Anirban Lahiri created history at PGA championship by having finished tied 5^th. This is the best finish by an Indian in any major surpassing Jeev Milkha Singh tied 9^th in  PGA championsip in 2018 and Shiv Kapoor finishing 9^th in the British Open 2013. He was tied third during the day. He is in line to play in the biennial president cup for International Team having rest of the world players except Europe against the defending champion USA which is scheduled in October in Incheon, South Korea.

Lahiri played superb two rounds with 7- under 127 and carried on the same momentum during weekends and finished 13- under 275 with 5- under 67 in final round, the best by an Indian in a major in a round. He shot only one bogey in front nine but last hole created problem for him as he bogeyed twice in as many round and made double bogey in first round. 

His long game is good, he needs to sharpen his putting skills. Playing with best players in the world in the best course will give him a lot of confidence to do well in future. 

He played in all four majors this year and made the cut each time except in the US Open. He surely has put India on a golf map and now we can hope that someday in future we see an Indian holding a claret jug or putting on a green jacket. Even Jason day who won this year’s championship had to wait for long time before. He was there almost all the most but wasn’t able to cross the line. 

Hope to see his patience, hard work, perseverance paying off in future. 

Badaun Rape case: Are we here only to blame others?

I have been thinking to opine my thoughts on recent happening in Badaun. What happened on 27^th May in Badaun District of Uttar Pradesh (where two teenage girls were gang raped and later were hanged from Mango tree) was brutal and gruesome but who is to blame for? Is this the society, is this the politician, is this the system, is this the media or is it US!

Whenever something like this happens first thing media notices is, in which state it happened and which party has the government there. Then they start bashing the party and politicians from different parties join hands with them, rather than addressing the real problem. It would be much fruitful debate in prime time if after the debate spokespersons have found the solution rather than shouting vociferously to defend the untenable.

The second thing is, politicians start making trips to the place where incident occurred and they make it a tourist spot for a photo op to use it in next elections. Wouldn't it be better if you act swiftly so that it doesn't repeat rather than consoling the parents for the loss the suffered?

Uttar Pradesh has been in bad news since Akhilesh Yadav’s government took over Mayawati’s in March 2012. There is a rape incident almost every day. Can it not be stopped? This certainly can be if they have the will. Everybody though that Akhilesh is young and educated so they voted and gave Samajwadi Party an absolute majority. But then I am reminded of ‘Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely” and this sums up the current situation in UP. It is not only UP, each state is suffering from this problem but UP is notch above from the rest. I come from UP so it pains me deeply when every morning I see the newspaper filled up with these incidents.

I sometimes wonder, do politicians even think while speaking in public. Apathy of politicians is appalling. Let me quote a few:

Mulayam Singh Yadav : ‘Death penalty for rape is unfair, boys make mistakes.’

Babulal Gaur, Home minister of MP: “Sometimes rape is right, sometimes rape is wrong.”

Ram Sewak Paikra, Home Minister Chhatisgarh: “Rape happens by mistake.”

The list is long, but these all were recent remarks made by our politicians. In all of these, one thing which amazes me is that our prime minister hasn't spoken so far who speaks highly about women safety in almost every speech.

The problem is that victim is treated as he/she is guilty and he /she has to look for shelter and offender roams freely. It adds more misery to the victim and his/her family after the incident and this is where we stop believing in justice system.

Can these incidents be abated? Should we depend on the law, politicians, system to prevent such incident from happening again? I think NO. It is a societal problem and we are responsible for it. Law can be made tough but what if a law bearer is also an accomplice in the crime? We need to change ourselves, we need to educate ourselves, we need to speak up and we need to be intolerant and that is how we can make the future better for coming generation.

Rafael Nadal vs Novak Djokovic: Final preview

Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic are going to meet for the record 42nd time coming Sunday for the most prestigious clay court title. Nadal is leading 22-19 against the world no2. For Novak, it is going to be his maiden title while Nadal is looking for his record 9^th Roland Garros title. Winner will be ranked 1 coming Monday.

Djokovic had the last laugh in last 4 meetings between the two, including one clay court meeting in Rome Final. But Nadal won last 3 Grand Slam matches including epic 5 setter in 2013 French Open semifinal.

It has been easy ride to final for Rafael Nadal as he lost only 1 set to fellow Spaniard David Ferrer in Quarter final. Also nobody could challenge Djokovic so far. Both haven’t played a 5 setter so far so we are expecting a great final, as one will be determined to become 8^th player in ATP history to have won all Grand Slam title at least once while other is looking for his record 9^th French Open title and to become first player to have won 5 title in same grand slam event and also to become first player in the history to win at least one Grand Slam title for 10 consecutive year. Victory for Rafael Nadal will equal his Grand Slam title tally with the great Pete Sampras.

Djokovic can trouble Nadal as he is now more determined and matured and have already beaten him in couple of clay matches, but it is not going to be easy either for Nadal or Djokovic. They will have to sweat it out in the middle to finally kiss the coveted trophy.

The only concern is that, the weather holds up in Paris as Nadal is not comfortable playing in cloudy condition. Hope we are going to have great Sunday evening!

In WTA, in less than 2 hours, Maria Sharapova will be taking on Simona Halep to clinch her second French Open title. Last year she was denied to win consecutive French Open title by Serena Williams, who had a rather shocking exit this time in second round against Gabrine Muguruza.

French Open day 5

It was a normal outing in Paris on day 5 as there were no major upset, except Garcia-Lopez, Leonardo Mayer (who plays Nadal in third round) and Fernando Verdasco that went to 4/5 sets.

Young Donald Young who never had won a game in French Open defeated Italian Feliciano Lopez in straight sets. Young Dominic Thiem played some incredible shots but that wasn’t enough to breach Nadal’s defense. Thiem did break Nadal and has occasional success against Rafa but it was too much to ask from the young man to trouble the clay court champion. Nadal eased to third round beating Theim 6-2 6-2 6-3 registering his 61^st victory on red clay. Nadal was high on praise on Thiem and said “He is future star, 100 percent”.

Last year finalist David Ferrer didn’t have much trouble beating Simon Bolelli, and British no1 Andy Murray got past Marinko Matosevic losing just 7 games. News is that Murray has found his new coach in Amélie Mauresmo though it hasn’t been officially declared yet. He has been playing without a coach after he parted ways with his former coach Ivan Llendl. Isn’t it interesting that a woman will be coaching a man? Though Mauresmo has coached Frenchman Michael Llodra before, who retired from singles event after he lost to Fernando Verdasco in first round.

In ladies side, Jelena Jankovic, Sara Errani, Petra Kvitova, Simona Halep and Ana Ivanovic all advanced to third round. British no2 Heather Watson couldn’t get past Simona Halep. British no1 young Laura Robson did not participate in French Open and will miss Wimbledon as well due to wrist injury.

Indo Pak express Rohan Bopanna and Aisam Ul Haq Quershi could get past Erlich/Melo and lost in straight sets. There was some good news as Sania Mirza with her German partner Cara Black advanced to pre quarter final beating Hantuchova and peers.

There are some interesting matches tomorrow: Milos Raonic vs Gilles Simon, Jo-Wilfriend Tsonga vs Jerzy Janowicz, Radek Stepanek vs Ernest Gulbis, Tommy Robredo vs John Isner (should be a good 5 setter), Taylor Townsend vs Suarez Navvaro. 

French Open day 4.

Fourth day in Paris was very dramatic, as defending champion and world no 1 Serena Williams lost to Garbine Muguruza of Spain. This will surely give sigh of relief to Maria Sharapova who was denied his second consecutive Roland Garros title last year by Serena Williams. Before Serena, her elder sister Venus lost to Anna Schmiedlova in 3 sets. Had Both Venus and Serena won, we could have witnessed one more Williams affair in third round but that wasn’t to be.

In men’s side, there were not any upset so to say, but I am happy to see Radek Stepanek doing well. He defeated Mikhail Youzhny in four sets and advanced to round3. Djokovic, Federer, Milos Raonic, Jo Wilfred Tsonga and Tommy Robredo all sailed in straight sets.

Spaniard are doing well in French Open and it evident that they love playing in clay. Except Almagro, there are still good players from Spain are alive. It will be interesting to see how far Robredo, Bautista Agut and Garnollers Pujol go.

As I am writing this, Order of play of day 5 is not out yet, so it is still not certain whether Rafa gets to play in Chatrier or will he have to play in Lenglen again? He plays Dominic Theim of Austria in round2.

Let us hope we don’t see any major upsets tomorrow and Rafa is not troubled much against the he hasn’t played even once. 

A trip to Rishikesh – 24th and 25th May 2014

Five of us (college friends) planned a trip to Rishikesh. We started off from our place at 4 AM in the morning. We took our first halt at road side dhaba and had tandoor aloo parantha with dahi. I also got the chance to see sunrise which rarely happens. 

We then stopped at Patanjali Yogpeeth in Haridwar, Baba Ramdev Ashram. I was astonished to see the facilities provided in ‘Ashram’. There were big buildings and in each room they had installed ACs. A thought came to my mind that if we compile the list of richest saints of the world, Baba Ramdev will be at the top.

We had previously done the booking so we reached at the camp site around 2 PM. The camp site ‘The river view’ is 37 KMs from Rishikesh (3 KMs from Byasi). There were other sites which were near to Rishikesh but these were flooded with people. So if you want to be in the crowded place, book the place near by Rishikesh only. The charge per head was 1450 including Lunch, Dinner and next morning breakfast with Kayaking, Rock climbing, Rafting and Cliff jumping.

After reaching at the site, we had our lunch. And after half an hour of rest, we kayaked down the river. None of us were able to balance the canoe even for a minute. Then we played Volleyball for an hour and were able to defeat the opposition team (People who were at the same camp site) just once and lost 1-2 to them.

Gradually the started to wear off. We went to the river shore with our canes. The water was very cold there. We put it for better use. We spent 2:30 hours there chatting and laughing. It was the memorable evening with friends. We had our legs immersed in cold water and cold breeze was making the atmosphere pleasurable.

As the night wore on, they lit the bonfire and people started to gather there. As I was very tired so went to bed (inside the tent) early and missed the dinner which was very delicious (Or may be my friends were saying this just to tease me). They had both veg and non-veg in dinner while they served only veg in Lunch. Everyone was asleep by 10:30.

We had to wake up early for rafting but then we love our sleep more than anything (It is good to have at least one enthusiastic guy in the group so time can be utilized effectively). We woke up at around 8:00 and got ready by 8:30. (There was queue to use bathroom but we were late so did not have to wait for it). In breakfast, they served poori sabji bread butter and boiled eggs.

We reached the site where rafting has to be started around 10:30. As it was weekend and there were more people and had less no of rafts so we had to wait till the last group had finished their rafting.

As in one raft they accommodate 9-10 people, and we were 5, so there 4 people from other group and because of that we couldn’t enjoy as much as we would have liked to. So it is better to go in a group of 9-10 or confirm first hand if you want the separate raft. It was a 16 KMs track with 3 major rapids in between. It was really enjoyable ride especially when we had to face the major rapid and when raft stood still for a couple of seconds vertically. We finished it in 1 and half hour. The guide wasn’t a good one as he wants to finish as early as possible because people were waiting for their turn. So it is better to go on weekdays than on weekends. The good time to go is between Starting of March to End of April as after April it becomes very hot. And there is nothing to do except to be in water in day time.

After rafting we had our lunch in Rishikesh, which was very delicious. I can not remember the name but they served awesome Lassi. There is famous restaurant named Chotiwala as well but we did not have to go there as we were already running late.

We started off from Rishikesh at around 2:45 PM. We stopped by at a dhaba near Muzzafarnagar for tea and were startled to see they had swimming pool there. If you drive from Delhi to Rishikesh it is 6 KMs before Muzzafarnagar, and the name of the dhaba is ‘Picnic Spot’. They charged 50 rs per head for one hour. After the tiring day we relaxed there for 45 minutes and then had Aaloo paranths. One thing was very surprising for me as I asked the lad (who happened to be the son of the dhaba owner) that they were Muslims and had named the Dhaba as ‘Punjabi Dhaba’. Don’t get me wrong but when it comes to business people care about running the business and making profit out it.

As soon so we got in the car, it started to rain heavily and we opened the car’s window. The rain drop hitting on the face made the ride really enjoyable.

That was my first rafting experience, and I really enjoyed it.

French Open day 2 and 3.

French Open has started and so has Rafael Nadal started his bid for 9^th Rolland Garros title.  He had no troubles in beating his first round opponent Robby Ginepri of USA. Nadal bageled Ginepri twice in his 6-0 6-3 6-0 win over Ginepri hitting 27 winners in just 21 games. I would have loved to see more winners but was happy seeing him racing around the court.

While Wawrinka, Nishikori and Almagro are ousted in first round, we can not say it is going to be easy ride for Nadal for his 5^th consecutive title in Paris. If he does so, he will be the first man to win 5 consecutive titles in the same grand slam event and will also be the first player to win at least one Grand Slam each year for 10 consecutive years starting from 2005. By doing so he will also equal Pete Sampras record and the gap will reduce to 3 with Roger Federer.

It was just 3^rd day and we have already seen few upsets. Australian Open champions Stan Wawrinka, Chinese sensation and former French Open winner Li Na are already shown the exit doors. There are few potential young stars that could not make a mark this time. Grigor lost to Ivo Karlovic in straight sets while Bernard Tomic lost to Frenchman Richard Gasquet.

I am also disappointed that this time there is no significant representation from India. While Rohan Bopanna is playing with Asiam Ul Haq Quereshi and Sania Mirza is playing with Cara Black, there is no Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi this time. Somdev Devvarman could not win the qualifier with Purav Raja and lost to Aleksandr Nedovyesov in first round in the main draw.

So, Rafael Nadal plays young Dominic Thiem in round 2 who defeated Paul-Henri Mathieu in straight sets. Both haven’t played each other so far so it will be interesting to see how Rafa tackles this young lad from Austria.

Hope to see Grand Slam title no 14 in 2014!